Controlling mechanism for shoe machines



July 5, 1932. c. E. Hoon CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed Jan. 14, 1929 4 Sheets-SheetI l July 5, 1932. c. E. HOOD CONTROLLING MECHANSM FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed Jan. 14, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 2 4f B' 0 Z4* 558 5 150 65 //\/|/E/\/ TUH- @ma j July 5, 1932. c. E. HooD l l CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SHOE MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 14, 1929 FQIO.

July 5, 1932. c. E. Hoon CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed Jan. 14, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F1 Q15. A Shank B Side E I E" F Gslde Long Tack Shift Skov( PinccrTwst 5|- w rfs Tue Gage Lock Heel edge 5mft Clutch Shift Large Ska:

wLJ e a l." S n m 5 Clvtch Shift Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED ls'rATlszs .PATENT oFFicE 1 CHARLES E. HOOD, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNTED SHOE MACHNERX l CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A COREORLTION OF NEW JERSEY CONTROLLINGr/MECHANISM FOR SHOE MACHINES Application led January 14, 1929. Serial No. 332,469.

This inventionrelates primarily toV controlling mechanisms, e. g., starting, driving and stopping mechanisms, for shoemachines. The particular mechanism herein illustrated is especially designed for, and to meet. the shoe factory operating conditions encountered in the use of, the well-known consoli- 'dated hand method lasting machine, especially as that machine is employed for last,- ing McKay shoes. However, it should be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited to such use.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved and more nearly automatic controlling mechanism, e. g., a starting, driving and stopping mechanism, which can loe-,applied readily to shoe machines of present commercial types, such as those in the use of whichv the machine operator supports and guides a shoe as it is presented to and moved progressively past power operated lasting instrumentalities or vother tools.

One important feature of this invention resides in the provision of automatic. controlling mechanism which-is adjustedv according to the size of the shoe being operated upon. As illustrated, the machine is gether with ine-ans, which may be in the form oi' two relatively` movable shoe engaging 'members-with suitable connections, which adjust the speed of OnefO-the-camS, for` eX- ample, the stopping cam, according'to the size of the shoe presented to the machine.

`Preferably, the shoe engagingmembers con- `tact with the'opposite ends of theshoe and thereby measure it,- and the connections from said member or members to the cam mechanism include variable speed devices. Asillustrated, the shoe'measuring devices include a toe gage or plate-and a heelga-ge or.V plate which areso` connected that .corresponding points in the vicinity ofl the breast linel of shoes'of different sizes, presented to the said devices, shall be located in a predetermined relation to the operating point of the machine.

In case vthe machine is to perform-a lasting'` operation entirely round the shoe, the speed of the operating instrumentalities will preferably be reduced at the toe of the shoe and possibly at the heel also. Accordingly, the` illustrated embodiment of the invention is provided with a high speed driving mechanism and a low speed driving mechanism and the controlling mechanism acts to render these driving mechanisms alternately operative. For example, the high speed mechanism may be operative While one. side of the shoe is being lasted but when the toe portion is reached the low speed driving mechanism will be thrown into operation automatically after which, when the opposite side of the shoe is reached, the high speed mechanism will againbe automatically 'rendered operative.

Moreover, as lasting machines of the.,

above-mentioned type are commonly operated, certain portions of the shoe are lasted and then the machine is stopped by the operator while certain adjustments are made, such as setting the 'machine for inserting tacks of either one of two diiierent lengths or for varying the plaiting action of the pincer, after which the operator again starts the machine into'operation. According to the present invention, the novel controlling mechanism above described starts and stops the machine, without requiring any intervention on the part ofthe operator, not only between operations on successive shoes but also between successive operations upon the same shoe, and the adjustments just mentioned are made automatically. I

Furthermore, according to this invention as herein exemplified, the same controlling mechanism may be connected to a plurality of machines or mechanisms such as lasting machines. F or convenience, that lasting machine with which the principal controlling mechanism is associated,- is hereinafter referred to as the master machine whereas the other connected, similar lasting machines are hereinafter referred to as subsidiary or subordinate machines. According to the preferred embodiment of this feature of the invention, each of these several machines is provided with a clutch and a brake which are controlled by mechanism associated with the master machine and connected to the subsidiary machines. This controlling mechanism automatically renders the dierent operating mechanisms respectively operative through different time cycles in case the different machines operate upon shoes of different sizes. As illustrated, cams and con necting devices in the respective machines render all of the clutches of the several machines operative at the same time while a cam associated with the clutch in each machine renders that clutch inoperative independently of the other clutches.

In addition to the features already mentioned, the present invention comprises also various other combinations and arrangements of machine parts which will now be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation part-ly in section of a step-by-step lasting machine equipped with driving and controlling mechanism according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a detail of the driving mechanism not shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, showing certain details of the clutch and brake mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation illustrating certain of the controlling cams and parts associated therewith;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation substantially on the plane indicated by the 45 line VI--VI of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a similar view Ataken on a plane at right angles to the plane just mentioned;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail on the plane indicated by the line VIII-VIII in Figs. 6 and 7 Fig. 9 is a sectional plan of the master machine or unit and of one subsidiary machine or unit;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of the controlling cam shaft and its cams;

Fig. 12 is a plan View of the bottom of a lasted shoe, in which are indicated not only the lasting tacks which are driven during the operation of the present machine but Valso tacks driven in preliminary operations;

Fig. 13 is a cam chart or diagram indicating the relative timing of certain of the elements of the machine during the operatioi of lasting both large and small shoes; an

Figs. 14 and 15 are end views, largely diagrammatic, of the starting and stopping cams of the machine and their co-operating cam rolls, in different positions.

As illustrated the present invention is embodied in a controlling mechanism, i. e., mechanism for starting, driving and stopping, applied to the well-known commercial consolidated hand method lasting machine of the general type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 584,744, Ladd and Mc- Feely, granted June 15, 1897, and No. 999,233, Ladd and Stiggins, granted August 1, 1911. The machine comprises a column 20 supporting a machine head 22 in which is mounted the main driving shaft 24 from which Various mechanisms of the machine are actuated. Among the usual elements shown are a gripper or pincer 26, a sole rest 28, a thin edge gage or rest 30 for the shank of the shoebeinglasted and a broad faced edge gage or rest 32 for the forepart of the shoe. A tack driver is indi cated at 34 and a shiftable tack raceway at 36. As fully explained in the prior patents men tioned, this raceway is provided with two guide channels, one for long tacks such as are normally used round the toe and the other for short tacks such as are usedin lasting the sides and shank. As in said prior patent, means is provided for shifting the raceway so that either one or the other of the two channels may deliver tacks into a vertical discharge opening or throat in the tack block 38. This shifting means is so connected with means for shifting the edge gages that the thin edge gage 30 is in operative position when the raceway is set for delivering short tacks, while the broad faced edge gage 32 is in operative position when the raceway is set for delivering long tacks. However, whereas, according to the said patents and in the commercial machine, simultaneous shifting of the raceway and edge gages is performed by hand through a partial rotation of a shaft such as 39, such shifting, according to the present invention, is effected automatically and for that purpose the shaft 39 has a horizontally extending arm 40 (Fig. 9) connected to a link 42 which, in turn, is connected to a lever 44 pivoted to a shaft 46 and carrying a cam roll 48 normally pressed bya compression spring 50 against the edge of a cam 52 (Fig. 11) fixed to a hollow shaft 54 surrounding and keyed to a solid shaft 56.

Furthermore, as explained in said Patent No. 584,744, the commercial machine includes mechanism through which twisting, turning or plaiting movements in one direction or the other are imparted to the pincer, the direction and extent of these twisting move Vments being determined by mechanism con- 'trolled by the knee of the operator who thereby shifts axially a collar which is shown at 60 in Fig. 1 of the present application and which is operatively connected to the pincer. According to the present invention, however, this shifting` of the collar 60 and, therefore, the setting of the pincer for its twisting movement is effected automatically through a lever 62 pivoted upon the machine head at 64 and connected at one end to the collar 60 and at the other end to a link 66 which in turn is pivoted to a lever 68 loosely fulcrumed on shaft 170 and carrying a cam roll 7,0 which is normally pressed by a compression spring 72 against the edge of another cam 74 fixed to the hollow shaft 54.

Such a lasting machine may be provided with other mechanisms which are set into operation by the operator during the normal cycle of the machine, such, for example, as an upper slitting device which is caused to operate while the toe portion of the shoe is being lasted. A machine fitted with such a slitting device is disclosed, for example, in United States Letters Patent N o. 931,809, Stiggins, granted August 24, 1909. If desired the machine of the present invention may be equipped with such a device and in that event another suitably shaped cam will be mounted upon the hollow shaft 54 for the purposerof controlling the operation of the device.

Referring to the mechanism for disconnecting the machine and particularly the lasting instrumentalities, above described, from the source of power, a stop cam 78 is secured to and rotatable with a worin gear 80 loose on the shaft 56, this gear meshing with a worm 82 fixed to a. vertical shaft 84 (Fig. 1) which carries a gear 86 at its upper end. rlhe gear 86 is driven through an intermediate gear 88from a gear 90 on the lower end of a shaft 9 2 (Fig. 7 which is driven from the source of power through any suitable variable speed mechanism so that, with the primary driver running at a constant speed, the speed of the shaft 92 and, consequently, of the stop cam 78 willbe varied according to the requirements of the work, for example, according to the size of the shoe being lasted. The particular mechanism herein illustrated is of a known type but it will be described briefly. It comprises a sleeve 94 (Figs. 7 and 8) secured to the shaft 92 on which sleeve are pivoted at 9 6 four similar levers 98 to each of which is pivoted atf a pawl 102 which is pressed by a spring 104 into engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 106 secured to a driving shaft 108 axially alined with shaft 92. The angular positions of the levers 98 on their respective pivots 96 are controlled by means of a non-rotating ring 110 which may bev shifted transversely of the axis of the alined shafts 92 and 108, by mechanism about to be described, so as to occupy either a position concentric or one of a series of positions eccentric to said axis. This ring 110 is provided with a circular groove 112 in which engage rolls 114 mounted on the respective levers 98. TWit-h the ring located so that they groove 112 is concentric with the path of rotation of the pivots 100 of the levers 98, the levers will have no angular movement on their respective pivots during the rotative movement of the sleeve 94 and the sleeve will be driven by the pawls at the same speed as the ratchet wheel 106. However, when the ring 110 is adjusted, so that the groove 112 is eccentric to the path of rotation of the pivots 100 as shown in Fig. 8, the levers will be oscillated about their pivots during their rotative movement with the sleeve 94,eachleversvvinging in one direction about its pivot during one half of each rotation of the sleeve and in the opposite direction during the remaining half of each rotation. During the swinging movement of each of the levers on its pivot in one direction, the acting end of the `pawl carried by the lever is driven at a greater speed than the speed ofrotation of the sleeve 94, while during the swinging' movement of the lever in the opposite direction, the acting end of the pawl has a speed less than the speed of rotation of the sleeve 94. Moreover, the ratchet wheel will always drive the sleeve through that pawl which is moving at the highest speed, the other three pawls then resting idly upon the ratchet wheel. With the ring 110 adjusted in a position eccentric to the path of rotation of the pivots of the levers 98, the speed of rotation of the sleeve 94 will be equal to the speed of rotation of the ratchet wheel plus the increment in speed due to the angular movement of each of the levers on its pivot during its rotation. The amount of this increment will depend upon the extent of the adjustment of the ring 110 from a position concentric with the path of rotation of the pivots of the levers 98. lt will thus be seen that with the ring 110 located so that the groove 112 is concentric with the path of rotation of the pivots of the levers 98 the sleeve 94 will be driven by the pawls at a minimum speed whereas the speed at which the sleeve is driven will be increased by an adjustment of the ring 110 so that the groove 112 is eccentric to the path of rotation of the pivots of the levers 98, the extent of theincrease in the speed of the sleeve 94 depending upon the amount of eccentricity of the ring.

According to the present invention, the adjustment of the ring 110 is effected automatically by the placing of theshoe in operative position in the machine. To this end the ring is carried at thevouter end of a swinging arm 120 (Figs. 8 and 9) pivoted tothe machine head at 122 and normally pressed in a clockwise direction by a coil spring 124. The particular position occupied by the-armv 120 is determined by the engagement of a lug 126extending outwardly from the ring 110 and engaging one or another ofa series Oil labout its fulcrum into that position, where it engages that step which is nearest to the axis, the ring 110 will occupy the position in which its axis is at the greatest dista-nce from the axis of the shaft 108, whereas when the stop 126 engages that step 128 which is farthest from the axis of the shaft 132, the ring 11() will be concentric with the shaft 108. The setting of the lever 130 so that one or another of the steps 128 shall be in operative relation to the stop 126 is effected by devices comprising a link 134, a lever 136 pivoted to the machine head at 138 and a toe gage, in the form of a. plate, 140 mounted upon the end of the lever and arranged to be engaged by the toe end of a shoe when the latter is presented in operative position to the machine (Figs. 9 and 19). The rear end of the shoe is likewise engaged by a heel gage, in the form of a plate, 142 mounted upon a lever 144 having a fulcrum stud 146 adjustable in a slot 148 at the end of a supporting bell crank lever 159 which in turn is pivoted to the machine frame at 152. The inner end of the lever 144 is adjustably connected by a link 154 to the lever 136 through a stud or pin 156 which may be clamped in any desired location in a slot 158 of the lever 136. rllhe lengths of the arms of the levers 136, 144 and the locations of their fulcrums are so proportioned or determined by adjustment of studs 146 and 156 in their slots that the movement of the plate 140 has a particular selected relation to the movement of the plate 142. For example, with the illustrated construction and adjustments, when a shoe of whatever size is placed in operative position in the machine between the plate 140, 142, a selected point c upon the shoe (Fig. 12), in the vicinity' of the heel breast line and where the first lasting tack is to be inserted by the machine, is always brought opposite the operating point, i. e. below the throat in the tack block 38. This result is secured by so adjusting the studs 146 and 156 that the extent of movement of the plate 140 with relation to the extent of movement, in the opposite direction, of the plate 142 will bear the same proportion that the distance from the point a to the toe end of the shoe bears to the distance from the point a to the heel end of the shoe. Therefore, the plates 146 and 142 with their connected mechanisms constitute a centering device for the shoe. Normally a. spring 160 (Fig. 9) maintains the two plates 140 and 142 in that position where they are a minimum distance apart. As the operator presses the shoe inwardly between the outer ends of the plates 14() and 142 these plates will be separated, the two plates moving proportionate distances, as just explained, so as to bring the selected point a on the shoe in a predetermined position longitudinally of the shoe and beneath the throat in the tack block 38.

In order that the shoe measuring or centering device just described and particularly the heel plate 142 thereof shall not interfere with the manipulation of the shoe during the progressive operation of the machine thereon, provision is made for moving the heel plate and its supporting devices into a retracted and inoperative position. To this end the lever 150 9) swung about its fulcrum 152 in a clockwise direction through the action of a link 166 connected also to the upper end of a bell crank lever 168 (also Figs. 5 and 10) pivoted on a rod 170 and carrying a cam roll 172 (Fig. 9) bearing upon the edge of a cam 174 11) secured to the sleeve 54 above mentioned. A spring 175 (Fig. 5) tenus constantly to hold the cam roll 17 2 in contact with cam l? 4. This cam has a periphery of such shape that the lever 150 and the heel plate 142 are held in their operative positions, as shown in Figs. 9, 10 anc 13, during substantially that portion of the cycle of operations when the shoe operated upon is being removed from the machine and replaced by another shoe whereas, at about the same time that the gripper 26 performs its iirst operation upon a shoe, a rise in the cam 17 4 causes the heel plate 142 to move to its retracted position so as not to interfere with the manipulation of the shoe.

l-floreover, according to the present invention means is provided, for automatically locking the toe gage or plate 140 and its actuating mechanism throughout the complete cycle of operations, except during substantially the period that shoes are being exchanged as just described, being approximately the same period that the heel gage is in operative position. The locking mechanism shown (Figs. 6, 7 and 9), comprises a lever 178 fixed to the rock shaft 132 and provided upon its upper surface with ratchet teeth 180 adapted to be engaged by a pawl 182 pivoted at 184 to an arm. 186 projecting from the machine frame. A spring 188 tends to hold the operative end of the pawl 182' in contact with one or another of the ratchet teeth 180. For turning the pawl 182 clockwise out of engagement with the teeth 180, there is provided a sliding rod 190 having a xed collar 191 and guided by a hole in a bracket 192 also projecting' from the machine frame. A spring 193 interposed between collar 191 and bracket 192 tends constantly to move the rod 190 to the left, as shown in Fig. 6, so that the pawl 182 may occupy its locking position. The rod is moved in the opposite direction to release the pawl through connections comprisof the parts ing a bell crank lever 194 (Figs. 6 and9) pivoted at 196. and connected to a link 198 pivotedv to the upperend of a lever 200 (Fig. 5) loosely mounted on shaft 46 and carrying a cam roll 204 (also Fig. 10) bearing against the periphery of a cam 206 also secured to the hollow shaft 54 above mentioned.

In. its broader aspects, the controlling mech-` anism just` described, which is adjusted according-to the size of the shoe being operated upon, is similar to such a mechanism disclosed in a prior application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 262,804, filed by the present applicant March 19, 1928, for a machine-for op.

erating upon shoes andthe novel subject.

matter common to that application and to the present application is not claimedherein but is claimed in said prior application.

As illustrated, power is transmitted to the machine through a belt pulley 210 (Figs. 1 and 2)v fixed to a shaft 212 rotating in bearings in the machine head. Alsofixed to shaft 212 is a large, or high speed, gear 214. and a small, or low speed, gear 216. Thev latter meshes with a gear 21,8 forming part of a friction clutch member 220 having a` hub 222 freely rotatable upon a sleeve 224 which, in turn, is rotatable and longitudinally movable upon a fixed supporting shaft or rod 226. Integral with sleeve 224is another friction clutch member 228 constructed and arranged to co-operate with and be driven by the clutch member 220. This member 228 and sleeve 224 are parts of a combined gear and clutch unit which includes also another friction clutch member 230 and the member 230, at times, co-operateswith'and is driven by still another friction clutch member 232 integral with a .hub 234 likewise loosely mounted on the sleeve 224. A spring (Fig. 2) interposed between the end of the sleeve 224 and a flange or nut 238 at theV outer end of the rod 226 tends constantly to move the sleeve 224 and the clutch member 228 toward the left and to maintain said member in driving engagement with the member 232 so that normally the operating parts are driven at high speed through t-he gear 214.

It is usually desirable to reduce the speed operating upon the shoe while they are'acting round the toe endof the shoe. Accordingly, in the illustrated machine, automatic means is provided for shifting the clutch member 228 to the right, as shown in Fig. l, against the resistance of spring 236 to disconnectV clutch member 228 from the member 232 and to connect it with the gear v218. This shifting is effected through a lever 240 pivotally connected to the shiftable clutch member 228 and also pivoted to the machine head at 242. At the lower endof the lever 240 is mounted a stud 244 through which passes a rod' 246 provided with. fixed collars 248, 250, a spring 252 being interposed between the stud 244 and the colla;` V25,0

prising a bell crank lever 254 having a horizontally extending arm 256 (Fig. 7) whichI f at the appropriate time in the cycle of operations is lifted by an arm 258 extending from a rocking sleeve 259 on a fulcrum rod 260. Another arm 262 (Fig. 6) also extending from sleeve 259 is pivoted to a link 264 connected at its lower end to a lever 266 (Fig. 5) pivoted on the rod 170 and carrying a cam roll 270 which is held by a suitable spring against the periphery of a starting cam 277 also secured to the sleeve 54. Another lever 274 (Figs. 1 and 9), which is rigidly con-l nected to lever 266 so as to move therewith` carries a cam roll 276 which bearsagainst the periphery of the stop cam 78 above men.` tioned. A rise 278 on stop cam 78, which is higher than the other rises thereon, operates as willV be further described to throw the low speed driving mechanism into operation. for a few cycles of the lasting instrumentalities while they are operating round the toe. Further details as to these cams` and their functions will be hereinafter explained and. hence the driving connections between the shaft 108 and the sleeve 224Y will next be de-V scribed.

In order that the sleeve 224 may have some axial movement on the supporting shaft 226,. it is provided round its periphery withv a` series ofrsplines 280 (Fig. 4) which have driving engagement with corresponding slots4 in the inner periphery of a sleeve- 282. 'A circular hole 284 in one end face of this sleeve may be entered by a slidable clutch pin 286 carried by a sleeve 288. keyed to the main shaft 24. coiled spring'290 tends constant. ly to shift the pin 286 axially into the hole. 284 and thereby clutch the sleeve 288 to the sleeve. 282 and drive the shaft 24 and the operating parts of the machine connected therewith from the pulley 210. The pin 286 is shifted in the opposite direction to un.y clutch sleeve 288 from sleeve 282 by the ac-. tion of the tapering end of a rocking lever 292 (see also Fig. 3) which is arranged, in one position thereof, to engage the end face ofl a lug294 projecting downwardly from the pin. This lever 292 is pivoted at 296 to a. Ybracket. 298 extending from the frame and an eccentric stud 299 integral with the lever is connected to one end of a brake band 300, the other end of which is connected t0 a fixed, pin 302 at the upper end of bracket 298. Hence, wise direction to shift the pin 286 and release the clutch, the brake band 300 is tightened about a frictional, cylindrical surface 305, formed on the sleeve 288 thus reducing the speed of the sleeve and its connected parts.y Lever 292 is actuated from the cams 7 8, 277

as the lever 292 is moved in a clocks, f

by a link 306 connecting the arm 262 and the rod 264, herein previously referred to. Hence, when rod 264 and link 306 are moved upwardly, lever 292 is rocked in a contraclockwise direction to release the brake and engage the clutch. Moreover, a lug 307 (Fig. 3) projects laterally from one side of the lever 292 so that the advancing side of lug 294 comes into engagement with this lug 307 while the lever is in unclutching position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Hence, after the clutch 282, 288 has been released as above described and after the brake 300, 305 has been applied, the advancing side of lug 294 comes into engagement with lug 30'.7 so that the main shaft 24 and its connected parts are brought positively to a stop, with the lasting grippers, thetack driver and the other lasting instrumentalities in a predetermined position in their cycle of op-erations.

An arm 308 (Fig. 6) also fixed to sleeve 259 is in Vposition to engage a boss 310 (Fig. 8) upon the swinging lever or support 122 being so arranged that, when the rod 264 is depressed to release the clutch 282, 288, the swinging lever will be moved to neutral position, where the ring 110 is concentric with the shaft 108, and thus withdrawing the lug 126 from engagement with the steps 128 or leaving it in engagement with the step farthest from axis 132.

A gear 312 also keyed to the shaft 24 drives a gear 314 at the upper end of the shaft 108 above described.

The sleeve 54, with the cams mounted thereon, including starting cam 277 by which the clutch 282, 288 is thrown into operation, is driven continuously whether th-e clutch is o erative or inoperative, through connections ig. 9) comprising a worm gear 316 fixed to t e sleeve and suitable gearing indicated at 318, 320, 322 to a spiral gear 324 fixed to the sleeve 282, whereas, with the driving mechanism above described, the worm gear 80 and its associated cam 78, which controls the disengagement of the clutch will be driven only when clutch 282, 288 is operative and then at a speed which will vary according to the size of the shoe presented to the machine and measured between or calipered by the toe plate 140 and the heel plate 142.

According to one feature of this invention, the lasting machine or unit above described in detail may be employed not only itself to last shoes but it may function as a master or controlling machine for one or mor-e other similar machines or units which may be driven from itto perform simultaneously similar operations on other shoes.

Under some manufacturing conditions shoes, which may be brought on racks, each carrying twelve or more pairs, to each such lasting machine or unit, run in solid sizes, i. e., all the shoes on a particular rack or on a number of successive racks are of the same size but include rights and lefts. More commonly, however, each rack carries a run of sizes, i. e., a set of shoes of various differing sizes.

Such controlled or subsidiary machines may be constructed and arranged so as to operate upon shoes of the same size as those operated upon by the master machine and in that case the driving and controlling mechanisms of the subsidiary machines may be considerably simplified by the omission of parts inasmuch as the subsidiary machines will be driven and controlled from the master machine. For example, shoes operated upon by the chines are of the same size as those operated upon by the master machine, the heel plate, such as 142, and its associated parts, as well as the whole variable speed mechanism, may be eliminated from each subsidiary machine.

It is preferred, however, to have the subsidiary machines of such construction that subsidiary mai they may operate upon shoes differing in size since in such case the from those being operated upon at the same time by the other subsidiary machines and by the master machine. Under such circumstances, and as illustrated particularly in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, each subsidiary machine, like the master machine, is provided with its own shoe calipering mechanism and variable speed mechanism which are essentially duplicates of the similar mechanisms, including adjustable eccentric ring 110, toe plate 140 and heel plate 142 already described. In Figs. 9 and 10, the master machine is indicated by the numeral I while the first subsidiary machine is designated Il. In this latter machine, the toe plate 140', the heel plate 142 and the connections therefrom, including the stepped lever 130', the adjustable ring 110', the swinging arm 120', and various other parts have the same structural arrangement as the corresponding parts 140, 142, 130, 110, 120, etc., of the master machine I. Therefore, it will be unnecessary to describe again in detail these parts as they appear in the subsidiary machine II.

The cams 78 and 277 of the master machine ,l are so designed that, when the largest shoe is being operated upon, the dwells of the stopping cam 78 are of just the right length, i. e., correspond to the appropriate angular movement of the cam 78 about its axis, so as to allow suitable intervals for a skilled operator at the I machine to perform the necessary operations in the manipulation of the shoe while the machine is periodically at rest. If a smaller shoe is being operated upon by any of the machines, the presentation of the shoe to the calipering mechanism of that machine will have so adjusted the variable speed mechanism that, with the particular construction illustrated, the lasting instrumentalities of that machine will be idle for a longer period than when a larger shoe is being operated upon but, after each such idle period of any machine, the master machine and the subsidiary machines will all simultaneously be started again into operation. With this arrangement, and especially under the specie manufacturing condition, above mentioned, where a considerable number of shoes of the same size are presented successively to the same machine, the less skilled or less experienced operators may handle the smaller shoes upon the subsidiary machines while the largest shoes may be handled by a more experienced or highly skilled operator at the master machine.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the main shafts of the subsidiary machines, corresponding to the shaft 24 of the master machine, are driven from the master machine I. More specifically, a sprocket wheel 336 (Fig. 1) on the sleeve 282 drives a chain 338 which in turn drives a sprocket wheel 3110 upon a sleeve 282 on the subsidiary machine Il corresponding to the sleeve 282 upon the master machine. This sleeve 282 may be provided with a similar sprocket 336 which through a chain 388 drives a second subsidiary machine and as many other similar machines as may be desired.

Moreover, associated with each subsidiary machine will be cams secured to a hollow shaft similar to shaft 54:, and secured to the shaft 56 which extends from the master machine through or to each subsidiary machine. These cams for each subsidiary machine correspond to certain of the cams, already described, in the master machine I and shown particularly in Fig. 11. Thus subsidiary machine Il, as shown in Fig. 10, has a cam 206 and appropriate connections Atherefrom to the lock for the toe plate 140, said cam and plate corresponding respectively to cam 206 and plate 1,40 of machine l. Adjacent to the cam 206 is a heel plate cam corresponding to cam 174 and also a starting cam 277. Moreover, each subsidiary machine has also a stopping cam, designated 78 in machine H which is driven through a variable speed mechanism of its own which mechav nism is adjusted according to the size of the particular shoe presented to that machine. No cams such as 52 and 74 of the master machine are required for the subsidiary machines because the raceway and pincer twisting mechanisms of all of the subsidiary machines are driven from the respectiveshafts 416 and 69 which drive those mechanisms in the master machine and which extend from j that machine through or to each subsidiary machine.

The machine as a whole, i. e., the master machine and the one or more subsidiary machines, may be constructed and arranged to 1 operate simultaneously upon several shoes which may be of diierent sizes as is about to be described.

Fig. 12 illustrates a McKay shoe of a relatively large size upon which the lasting has been completed, according to the presentinvention. Tacks may be inserted previous to the operation of the present machine at several points as indicated by dots whereas the lasting tacks inserted by this machine are indicated by small circles. More specifically during the operation of assembling the-upper with the insole upon the last, a tack a* may be driven through the upper and insole near the heel end of the shoe and during the pulling-over operation five tacks or more, p', p2, p5, p4, and p5 may be driven at the toe and in the vicinity of the tip line. upper may be pulled over and llaid down upon the insole and tacked at certain other points. For example, wo tacks 1', 12 may be inserted adjacent to the breast. The lasting at such points may be done by hand or by an existing lasting machine or even by the present machine. It is contemplated that the heel seat will be lasted, upon a separate machine or by hand, after the forepart is lasted by the present machine.

However, assuming that the upper has been pulled over and secured by tacks, either as indicated by dots in Fig. 12, or according to any other preference of the shoe manufacturer, and assuming that the cam shaft 54, 56 of the illustrated machine and the parts operatively connected therewith are running continuously, the machine operator presents the shoe, held in his hands, to the machine as already outlined and brings a particular point, such as that designated a, upon the bottom of the shoe directly below the throat in the tack block 88 of the machine whereupon, due to the automatic action of the controlling mechanism including the starting cam 277, the lasting operation is performed along the inside shank of the shoe, the operator shifting the shoe from point to point and a series of tacks being inserted, of which the first is indicated at a and the last at b, adjacent to the ball line. The distance along the shoe from point a to point o, as shown in Fie'. 12, corresponds to 12 cycles of the lasting instrumentalities, as indicated by 120 from A to B in Fig. 18, and upon a large shoe 12 tacks will be inserted. During this period also the pincer twisting mechanism will operate to twist the pincer in one direction and the raceway adjusting mechanism will be set for driving short tacks, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 13. After the tack has been inserted at `the stopping cam 7 8 operates, as will be further explained hereinafter, to throw out the clutch 282, 288 and the lasting instrumentalities come to rest. This idle period continues for four cycles of the lasting instrumentalities, as designated, 4c, in Fig. 18 to a point in the machine cycle Next the indicated at C. During this period, also as illustrated in Fig. 13, the pincer twisting mechanism is rendered inoperative. Next the clutch is again thrown automatically into operation and continues operating for a period indicated from C to D by 70 and a series of tacks, for example seven in number, are inserted along the inside margin of the shoe beginning at c (Fig. 12) and ending at d in the Vicinity of the tip line whereupon the lasting instrumentalities again stop automatically and remain idle for four cycles, as indicated from D to E (Fig. 13), during which time the raceway shifting mechanism is automatically set for long tacks and the pincer twisting mechanism is shifted to twist the upper in the opposite direction to that which it was twisted in the shank after which the lasting instrumentalities are again automatically set into operation, inserting 12 tacks from the point e to the point f, the latter corresponding approximately to the tip line at the opposite or outer side of the shoe. The corresponding point in the machine cycle is indicated at F in Fig. 13. During about siX cycles of this period while the lasting round the toe is being performed, the low speed driving mechanism, including the gear 216 and connected parts is operative, as indicated at E', E (Fig. 13), through the action of the rise 278 on cam 78 and the high speed driving mechanism including gear 214e is inoperative. Vhen the point f is reached the clutch 282, 288 is again automatically thrown out of operation and the tack raceway and the pincer twisting mechanisms are again automatically actuated and then, after an idle period corresponding to four cycles y of the lasting instrumentalities, the latter are again set into operation and seven tacks, for example, are inserted from a point indicated at g in Fig. 12 along the side of the shoe to substantially the ball line at a point indicated at 7L, corresponding respectively to points G and H in Fig. 13, where again the machine automatically comes to rest. Then the pincer mechanism is automatically shifted and, after four cycles, the lasting instrumentalities automatically start again to operate and insert 12 tacks from a point indicated at j in Fig. 12 to a point adjacentto the breast line indicated at 7c, corresponding respectively to points J and K in Fig. 13, where the clutch 282, 288 is thrown out of operation and the lasting instrumentalities remain idle for a period 140 corresponding to 14 cycles thereof, corresponding to the distance from K to A at the right of Fig. 13, during which period the operator removes the shoe from the machine and replaces it by another shoe ready for a similar lasting operation. During this period also, as represented in Fig. 13, the toe gage or plate 140 is unlocked, so that it may be adjusted in position automatically as the new shoe is presented to it, and the heel gage also is in shoe engaging position, as shown also in Fig. 9.

According to the method of lasting a shoe just described, 50 tacks are inserted during the machine lasting operation for the largest shoe but it will, of course, be understood that a different number of tacks may be inserted according to the individual taste of the shoe manufacturer or machine designer, appropriate controlling cams being provided in the machine.

When a shoe of smaller size is being operated upon, preferably fewer tacks will be inserted. For example, as represented by the lower broken line in Fig. 13, instead of inserting 12 tacks from the point a to the point Fig. 12, and from the point to the point lo, nine tacks only may be inserted as indicated by 9c and A, B and J, K', Fig. 13. From the points c and g to the points l and L, respectively, five tacks may be inserted, as indicated by 5c and C, D and G, H, Fig. 13, and around the toe from the point e to f nine may be inserted as indicated by 9c and E, F, Fig. 13. This result is accomplished through the automatic act-ion of the variable speed mechanism in accordance with which the lasting instrumentalities, through the action of the stopping cam 78, come to rest earlier in the entire cycle of the machine and remain idle for a longer relative time upon a small shoe than upon a large shoe, as indicated by the lower two lines of the diagrams shown in Fig. 13.

The functions of the starting and stopping cams are further illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. While, as a matter of fact, the corresponding Cams may be of identical construction in all of the machines, it is convenient to consider that Fig. 14; illustrates the cams 277 and 78 of the master, or No. I, machine (Figs. 9 and 10), and that Fig. 15 illustrates the corresponding cams of a subsidiary machine, such as the No. Il machine. Moreover, in these figures, in order to illustrate clearly and without confusion the different relative positions of these cams, the diameter of the two stopping cams 78, 78 is indicated as being slightly less than that of the two starting cams 277, 27 7 but in the actual construction, and as illustrated in the other figures, they may advantageously have the same diameter.

When the machine is at the point in its complete cycle of operations which corresponds to the line A in Fig. 13 and is about to insert tacks along the inside shank of a shoe beginning at a in Fig. 12, as already described, the starting cam 277 with its roll 270 and the stopping cam 7 8 with its roll 276 occupy the relative positions which are illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 14 with the roll 270 bearing against the periphery of cam 277 in a dwell or depressed portion r and the roll 276 bearing against the periphery of cam 78 in a dwell Z5. As the starting cam 277 continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, a rise r2 thereon will lift the roll 270 and thus throw the clutch 2,82, 288, and. consequently the stopping cam 78 and the lasting instrumentalities, into operation. After the rise r2 passes from beneath the roll 270, the rise t2 of cam 78 will remain'beneath the roll 276 and, therefore, will hold the clutch in operation. After av period, which will be longer for a large shoe and shorter fora small shoe and which will be determined bythe automatic adjustment ofthe variable speed mechanism, according to the size of the shoe,

as above explained, Vthe rise t2 will pass from beneath the roll 276 and the latter will drop into a dwell t3 at which time roll 270 will drop into the dwell r3 of cam 27 7 so that the clutch will be thrown out of operation and the lasting instrumentalities will again come to rest. Accordingly, when a shoe of the largestsize is being operated upon, the two cams 78 and 277, at this point inV -thef cycle of the machine, will occupy the relative angular positions indicatedin Fig. 14 but with the rolls 276, 270 in the dwells 3,163 respectively, as just explained. Y

However, when a shoe of the smallest size is being operated upon these two cams, or the corresponding cams 78 and 277 in the No. II machine (Figs. 9 and 10) will oecupydiffe'rent relative positions, as is indicated in Fig. 15. Assuming that at the'beginning of the cycle of the machine represented by point a in Fig. 12 and A in Fig. 13, the two cams 78 and 277 and their rolls occupy the relative positions illustrated in Fig.V 14, the variable speed ,mechanismY 94, 110 etc. will be so adjusted automatically, if the largest size shoe is presented to the` No. I machine, that the cam 78 will rotatev at a relatively low speed so that 12 cycles of the lasting instrumentalities, as represented by 120 in Fig. 13, will occur before the -cam roll 276 passes off the rise t2 and dropsinto the dwell t34 whereas when the smallest size shoe is beingoperated upon, say in the No. II machine, its variable speed mechanismv will be so adjusted automatically that the cam 7 8', as represented in Fig. 15, will rotate at a higher speed with the result that: only nine cycles, as represented by 9c in Fig. 13, will occur before its cam roll 276 passes olif the correspondingl rise T2 and drops into the dwell T3, even although the rolls 276 and 270 were lifted respectively from theV cam dwellsR, T- to their rises R2, T2V at the same' point inthe cycle. p i Y Similarly, when thel largestl shoe' is being operated on, the-risev rf-of the starting cam 277 will start the lasting instrumentalities into operation after an idle period Acorresponding to four cycles but when the smallest shoe is being operate'dfon, the next ris'e on the starting cam, yas ilhistra'tedl by R4, Fig. 15, will'not' functio'nftoV lift the roll 27.0 from dwell R3 until afterseven cycles, all as represented in Fig. 13. vAlso,simi larly, the other'rises'` and dwells z5 to'vfrl" of -cam 277, t to t. of cam 78,R5 to R10 of cam 277, Iand T4E to T10 of cam 78 act4 suc-` cessively to shift the clutches of bothmachines, Nosp and II,fin a similar; manner except that the rises 278, 278 on the respective cams 78 and 78', which are-higher than the' other rises on the said cams, act through connections hereinbefore described to render the respective clutches operative to drive the lasting instrumentalities at reduced speed, while the toes of the shoes are being lasted. f Y

According to the method above described, the lasting operation is performed entirely round the shank and forepart ofthe shoe upon the present machine but, especially-for the better grades of shoes, the to'e end, as

well as the heel end, may -be lasted upona separate machine of the so-called bed type Vin which case the present machine7 will be Vanism', automatic vmechanism including two cams .for rendering said clutch and stopping mechanism alternately operative'and inoperative respectively'eto drive and to stop the machine, and means movable bya shoe asL it isy presented" to the machine toy adjust the Vspeed of one camin accordance with the size of the shoe.

2. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of'a clutch, automatic'mechanism, including a controlling member, for rendering said clutchv alternately operative and inoperative to driveV the machine, and means movable by a shoe as it ispresented to the machine to adjust the speed of said member in accordance with the size ofthe shoe.

3; In a machine-for operating upon shoes, the combination of mechanism forfcontrolling automatically the starting and stopping of the machine, and movable means responsive to the size of the shoe presentedto the machine for adjusting said mechanismV to vary' the period that the machineremains stopped.

4:. In a machine for operating upon shoes', the` combination of mechanismfor controllingautomatically the startiiig and* stopping of the machine, and means movable bythe shoe presentedto the machinefor adjusting said mechanism according tothe size ofisaid shoe.

5. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of mechanism for controlling automatically the starting and stoppingl ofthe machine, and means for adjusting said mechanism according to the size of the shoe presented tothe machine.

`6..In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of a clutch, stopping mechanism including a friction brake and a positive stop, mechanism for operating progressively round a portion of a shoe, and automatic mechanism for rendering said clutch and stopping mechanism alternately operative and inoperative respectively to drive the operating mechanism and to hold it at rest in a predetermined point in its cycle of operations.`

7 In a machine for operating upon shoes, mechanism for controlling automatically the startingr and stopping of the machine including a control member moving continuously anda cam rotating intermittently and the operation of which is initiated by said control member. f Y

8. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of mechanism for operating -progressively but intermittently round a portion ofthe shoe, a cam for controlling the duration of an operation on said mechanism onthe shoe, and a variable speed mechanism adjustable by the shoe in accordance with the size of said shoe to adjust the speed of the cam. Y

9. Ina machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of a main shaft, mechanism controlling automatically the starting and stopping of said shaft including a clutch, a variable speed mechanism, a rotary stopping cam driven from the main shaft through said variable speed mechanism, andl a continuously driven starting cam for operatively connecting the clutch with the main shaft.

10. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of high speed driving mechanism, lovvy speed driving mechanism, shoe measuring devices, mechanism for operating progressively round the forepart of a shoe, `and controlling mechanism for said driving mechanisms constructed and arranged to render the loiv speed driving mechanism operative when the operating mechanism is operating in the vicinity of one end of the shoe and said high speed driving mechanism successively operative and inoperative at other portions of the shoe, said controlling mechanism including a cam the action of which is adjusted by said measuring devices in accordance With the size of the shoe presented to the machine. y

r11. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of high speed driving mechanism, 10W speed driving mechanism, mechanism for operating progressively round a portion of a shoe, controlling mechanism for said driving mechanisms acting tolrender them alternately operative, and means movable by the shoe ypresented to the machine for adj Listing said controlling mechanism according to the size of said shoe. I

l2. In a machine'for operating upon shoes,

the combination of high speed driving mechanism, 10W speed driving mechanism, mechanism for operating progressively round a ing to the size of the shoe presented to the machine.

13. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of high speed driving mechanism, low speed driving mechanism, mechanism for operating progressively round a portion of a shoe, and mechanism for controlling automatically the starting and stopping of the machine at different points along the shoe and for rendering said driving mechanisms alternately operative.

14. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of high speed driving mechanism, low speed driving mechanism, mecha-- nism for operating progressively round a portion of an assembled shoe, and mechanism r for controlling automatically the starting and stopping of the machine and for rendering said driving mechanisms alternately operative.

l5. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of shoe measuring devices including a shoe engaging member displaceableY by a' shoe as it is presentedl to the machine, mechanism for operating progressively round a portion of a shoe, and mechanism for controlling automatically the stopping of ,the machine including variable speed devices adjusted by'said displaceable member.

.16. In a machine for operating upon shoes, j

the combination of shoe measuring devices including a shoe engaging member displaceable by a shoe about to beoperated upon by the machine,mechanism for operating progressively round a portion of a shoe, and controlling mechanism for varying the operation Vof said operating mechanism including variable speed devices adjusted by said displaceable member.

. 17. In combination, a plurality of mechanisms adapted to voperate simultaneously uponaplurality of shoes of different sizes, driving means, a clutch for connecting each such mechanismvvith the driving means,'a set of cams and connecting devices constructed and operating jto render all of the clutches operative repeatedly for driving the respective operating mechanisms,v and a cam and connecting devices associated .with each clutch for rendering it repeatedly; inoperative independently of the other clutch or clutches.

"iso

18. In combination, a plurality of mechanisms adapted to operate simultaneously upon a plurality of shoes of diiferent sizes, driving means, starting and stopping devices for connecting each such mechanism with the driving means, andl automatic controlling mechanism for said devices constructed and arranged to start all of said operating mechanisms simultaneously but to stop them at times differing according to the sizes of the shoes.

19. In combination, a plurality of mechanisms adapted to operate simultaneously upon a plurality of shoes of different sizes, a source of power, and automatic controlling mechanism constructed and arranged to render the different operating mechanisms respectively operative throughout different time cycles.

20. In combination, a plurality of power driven shoe machines each of which includes both mechanism for performing a principal operation upon a shoe which is presented to the machine and also mechanism for performing an operation auxiliary to the principal operation, means operatively connecting together continuously said auxiliary mechanisms, a source of power, and automatic controlling mechanism constructed and arranged to render the different principal mechanisms respectively operative throughout ditlerent time cycles.

2l. Automatic means for controlling a plurality of power driven shoe machines each of which performs a principal operation upon a shoe which is presented to the machine and is fed manually and one or more auxiliary operations, said automatic means including mechanism controlled by the size of each shoe to modify the principal operation of each machine without affecting the occurrence of the auxiliary operation or operations as required by the particular size of the shoe.

22. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of mechanism for operating progressively round a portion of aI shoe, starting and stopping devices automatic controlling mechanism for said devices constructed and operating to cause the action of the operating mechanism to be interrupted at one or more selected points in the operation upon the shoe, and shoe measuring devices including a part movable in accordance with the size of the shoe being operated upon to adjust said controlling mechanism.

23. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination of mechanism for operating progressively on a shoe, shoe measuring devices including a toe engaging member and a heel engaging member, and connections between said members to insure that corresponding points, in the vicinity of the breast line, of shoes of dili'erent sizes presented to said devices shall be located inv a predetermined relation to the operating point of the machine.

24. :In a machine for operating upon-shoes,

vices including two relatively movable members constructed and arranged to be engaged by opposite ends of the shoe', and connections between said members to insure that corresponding points lengthwise on shoes of dierent sizes presentedtosaid devices shall be located opposite the operating point of the machine so that said operating mechanism will commence its operation at the samerelative point on all shoes.

26. In a machine for operating upon shoes, the combination ofstarting and st'opping'devices, controlling mechanism for saiddevices, shoe measuring devices including two relatively movable members, and means for moving one of said members, at about vthe time that the machine is being started, to avoid interference of said member with the .manipulation of the shoev and for restoring said member to shoe measuring position as the rmachine comes to rest.

27. In a machineA for operating'upon shoes, the combination of mechanismV for operating on a shoe, controlling mechanism therefor, shoe measuring devices connected to saidicontrolling mechanism for adjusting it and inico cluding two relatively movable members for engaging the shoe, and means operated as' the machine isbeing'started to lock said controlling mechanism in `adjusted position and to shift one of said membersjto avoid' interferencel thereof with the manipulation ofthe shoe 28. In a machine for operatingupon shoes, the combination of mechanism for operating progressively on al shoe, shoe measuring devices-connected to said operating mechanism operating mechanism foradju'sting'it including two relatively movable members for engaging the opposite ends of the shoe.

30. In a machine for operating on shoes, a' shoe measuring device having, in combination, a pair of members constructed and arranged to be engaged by the opposite ends of a shoeand to locate the shoe in the machine, levers upon the ends of Which said members are respectively mounted, connections between said levers, said levers and connections being so proportioned and arranged as to insure that the movement of one member shall bear a predetermined proportion to the movement of the other, and yieldingmeans tending to effect a relative approach of said members.

31. In a lasting machine, lasting mechanism for working an upper progressively .over a last and fastening mechanism for securing the upper in lasted position, in combination With mechanism including a continuously moving starting cam and an intermittently moving stopping cam for controlling automatically the operation of said'lasting and fastening mechanisms so as alternately to last a predetermined portion of the shoe and to remain idle for a predetermined period.

32. In a lasting machine, lasting mechanism for Working an upper progressively over a last and fastening mechanism for securing the upper in lasted position constructed andl arranged to operate progressively round a portion of a shoe, `in combination with high speed and lov.T speed driving mech- ,anisms therefor, and automatic controlling mechanism for said driving mechanisms acting to render the loW speed mechanism operative round the toe and the high speed mechanism operative along the sides of the shoe.

. 33. In combination, a plurality of lasting mechanisms adapted to operate simultaneously upon a plurality of shoes of dierent sizes, actuating mechanism for each lasting mechanism, and automatic controlling mechanism for each actuating mechanism constructed and arranged to render the di'erent actuating mechanisms operative throughout time cycles dilering according to the sizes of the respective shoes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciication.

CHARLES E. HOOD. 

